1) Health. Get in, get out, and get to the opener. The Giants had just four days between their third and fourth preseason games, and the regular-season kicks off next Wednesday. The defending champs are a little banged up at some positions, primarily on the defense, and health is equally as important as a "W" in the preseason finale.
2) Final audition. While starters won't see more than a series or two (if at all), this is the final chance for players on the bubble to make their marks. Rosters were trimmed to 75 on Monday and will be finalized to 53 on Friday. Go ahead, take a look at a depth chart and go to the bottom of it; 22 of those players won't see the weekend on the Giants roster.
3) Middle of the line. Amid the first round of roster adjustments, defensive tackle Chris Canty was placed on the reserve/physically unable to perform list, meaning he won't play for at least the first six weeks of the season. Meanwhile, the competition on the interior continues as the status of Marvin Austin and Shaun Rogers remains uncertain. Watch Markus Kuhn and Dwayne Hendricks. Both are having a successful preseason so far.
4) Coughlin's corners. The secondary hit a speed bump with injuries, and Prince Amukamara and Terrell Thomas are sidelined for the time being. That leaves the door open for Michael Coe to grab a starting gig, while players like Justin Tryon and Bruce Johnson prove their worth – both on defense and special teams.
5) Coughlin vs. Belichick. Any time these two colleagues-turned-rivals face each other, you're talking about a lot of NFL lore on one football field – five Super Bowls worth. No, the outcome doesn't matter. No, there isn't a real game plan. But it never hurts to re-live some of those championship moments.
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As part of the Giants' partnership with Melanoma Exposed (TM), free skin cancer screenings will be held at the Giants vs. Patriots pre-season game on Wednesday, Aug. 29 from 2:00 – 7:00 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.melanomaexposed.com/. Melanoma Exposed is an educational campaign – led by leading melanoma advocacy groups, former professional football coach Bill Cowher and Bristol-Myers Squibb – to raise awareness of melanoma and its risk factors and to encourage people to get screened.
